Bos welcomes Renshaw, mulls return to track for London

Theo Bos says he’s looking forward to the arrival of Mark Renshaw to Rabobank and says he’s mulling a return to the track for another shot at Olympic gold next season.

The former trackie has had moderate success since focusing on the road in the wake of the 2008 Olympic Games, but said the chance to take a shot at an elusive gold medal might lure him back on the boards next year.

“My experience in Beijing (2008) was not so good. I want to erase those memories,” Bos told VeloNews. “We made a plan for the Olympics and it didn’t work out. I wasn’t at the level I needed to be win a medal.”

Bos, 28, ruled the boards in the mid-2000s, winning world titles in Keirin, sprint and the kilo as well as a silver medal in the 2004 Olympics in the sprint. His efforts for a gold medal fell flat in Beijing, however, and he turned his attention to the road in the 2009 season.

Bos, however, said he’s considering a run at the omnium — a new Olympic event for 2012 London — and said he may race some World Cup track events this winter to test his form on the boards before making a final decision if he will try to earn a spot on the Dutch Olympic team next summer.

“I still haven’t decided,” he said about another shot at the Olympics. “Maybe I will try in the omnium. Maybe I will race some World Cups to make a test.”

Bos insists he’s still committed to the road, but admits he’s still missing what he called a “big win.”

“I won five races this year. I had some good results, but I still don’t have that big win,” he said. “I am satisfied with my progression on the road. It was hard to change from being a sprinter on the track to a sprinter on the road. I have met my expectations but I want to win bigger races.”

Bos’ 2011 wins include two stages at the Tour of Oman to open the season and a stage win at the Tour of Denmark in August. Since hitting the road in 2009, he has yet to win a race at the WorldTour level.

Bos says he will only benefit with the arrival next season of Australian veteran Renshaw.

After working as the lead-out man for Mark Cavendish, Renshaw is looking forward to the chance to be the lead sprinter at Rabobank. That’s something that Bos says he welcomes.

“He’s faster than me and he will be the man for the big races,” Bos said. “I know I have to improve and riding with a rider like Renshaw will only be better for me.”

Rabobank sport director Erik Breukink said there will still be plenty of opportunities for Bos to try his luck in the sprints next season.

“With Mark, we will have a top sprinter for the big races. We believe he can win a lot of races,” Breukink told VeloNews. “Theo is still learning. We know that he is fast when he can get to the line in position to make his sprint. We are working toward that goal.”